What the * is this nib?

[LapsangS]

Just came across this eBay auction. The nib is really weird. Doesn't look like a fountain pen nib. What is it?

 

Weird nib

Edited July 2, 2006 by LapsangS

[NeoTiger]

It looks like a Stylographic pen. See this reference page on Richard Binder's website:

 

http://www.richardspens.com/ref_info/stylos.htm

[FLZapped]

I have one of those types. Mostly used for drafting with India Ink. -Bruce

[LapsangS]

I see. Thanks a lot. I was thinking that it must be some sort of a technical drawing pen

[gregamckinney]

Are there stylo pens that are made for use specifically with FP ink vs. drawing ink, or can either kind of ink be used in any stylographic pen? I have a few stylo pens that came in a lot of other fp stuff. If they run on FP ink, it might be fun to try to get one cleaned out/up and writing.

Best regards, greg

[corienb]

I can't write with these things..seemed like the only way to get ink on the paper was to hold it at 90 degrees to the paper ?

[wdyasq]

I can't write with these things..seemed like the only way to get ink on the paper was to hold it at 90 degrees to the paper ?

They do require one to hold the nib a lot more vertial than a standard fountain pen. I think they may be more economical on ink than a fountain pen. I never used regular ink in my "Rapide-o-graphs". But - that was 40 years ago.

 

Ron

[Richard]

All of my stylos except one were designed for, and write well with, FP ink. They don't like to be held at angles lower than 45°, but they are quite happy in an otherwise normal FP usage mode. The problem that most people experience is with pens whose tips have been worn. Once reshaped and smoothed, they're good to go.

[corienb]

The two I had were new and never inked. Wrote well when held upright, but at any lower angle they were horrible ( I sold them, haven't heard the b uyer complain so he might have had better luck ).

I'll stick to my FP's .grabbed a ballpoint yesterday and spent the first few seconds wondering what felt "off" , then realized it was the need for the "frantic scribble to get it started"

[Johnny Appleseed]

Corien,

 

I believe there are a couple of different ways that stylos were made. One style, which I believe is the way all modern Rapidographs are made, had very sharp corners to the tip, like the top of a tin can. It was made for technical drawing and does have to be held at a fairly straight angle. If yours were modern stylos, I would suspect that is what you had, since I think most of them made today are made for technical drawing.

 

Vintage stylo's were often made for writing, and had rounded off tips to them. I have an Inko-graph lever-filler that is quite reasonable to write with, though it does need a steeper angle than most FPs. I also have a JUCO eyedropper in chased hard rubber that needs some of Richards afore-mentioned smoothing.

 

On a historical note - that I think Richard covers in his article - prior to Waterman and Wirt fountain pens in the 1880s, Stylo's were extremely popular and considered much more reliable than the early fountain pens.

 

John

Edited July 3, 2006 by Johnny Appleseed